Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-18
THE DEAD CHIEF JUSTICE
THE UNITED STATES COURTS
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.

i
ent TO take appropriate action relative to
tae death OF the late Chief Justice Jack
500. Col. Geo. A. Mercer for the com
! mittee appointed last week, reported the
following resolutions:
The bar of the United states Courts for the
southern District OF Georgia have learned
with profound and unfeiEGed >orrow Of the
death Of the Hon. James Jackson, the late
Chief Justice OF Georgia.
Ills eminent virtues, his sWerVlng patri-
otisn, his great JuuiCa! ability, his valuable
ser ices TO the state and to the country, his
| biameie;s HE, ali combine to make his
memory a source OF pride to his State
aud Ills name one Of the most distlnguished in
the annals OF our times.
Res ned, That the STATE of Georgia has lost
one OF her most eminent and useful citizens,
The Judlcature of the country q great judge,
and the country a patriot Of distinguished
virtues and devoted attachment TO It's best in
terests.
Resoi6rd, That as q mark OF respect for the
memory of the lamented Chief Justice that
TINS Court DC requested to spread these resO-
luuons on the minutes OF the court, and that
copy be forwarded 10 his family.
THE RESOLUTIONS SECONDED.
Hon. DUPONT Query, United states Dis
! trIct Attorney, seconded the resolutions
IN few graceful and feeling sentences:
May 1t please your honor" he said,
II am certainly IN most hearty sympathy
with the sentiments expressed in the
brieT but full resolutions reported by the
committee. In my humble judg ment Chici
Justice James Jackson was one of the
/ very best citizens Of the Republic, and his
| private lie was without spot Or blemish.'
In point OF learning, ability and purity
lie was OF the highest type of our Ameri-
can judicial character. While his devO-
ton to personal friendships was unseiish.
his sympathIes tor individuals benencent,
his adherence TO the great principles
essential TO the welfare OF communities
was unyielding. Truly indeed, 1t may be
SAID OF MIN as Jurist, that tbs walk
was on the mou' tain ranges of the law
Without further extension OF my remarks
earnestly second the motion to adopt
the resolutions OF the committee"
Dir. r. &. Erwin followed, appropriate
~ referring, especially TO the great
pleasure it gave 10 the Savannah Bar to
argue case before the late Chief Justice.
The feeling manifested by the gentlemen
present seemed profound and genuine.
JUDGE sPEER's TRIBUTE
Judge Speer received the resolutions
and directed chem TO be placed upon the
minutes and a copy forwarded To the
family of the late Chei Justice. Judge
Spear SAID:
The late Chief Justice Of Georgia was
man Of exceptional ability. OF consHicu-
Gus zee illness. and IL character tar more
rounded and complete than Mauy Of those
VINO win their way to suca prominence as
his n the history of their tines. He had
rot, perhaps, in ais judicial deliy-
oraEces he uniform ana attractive e!o-
Quence OF LumpGln, rOC TIE surprising
felicity and case OF Lochrane, nor the
broed-reachlr@, semi-polttcal and states
mani he sa2acijy OF Brown, nor the
austere sentenJ OUsuess o! Warner, but
the record OF his lahOrs afford abundant
evidence OF hjs true talent, his great CON-
mon sense, his unfagging industry, and
constitutes a most valuable chapter in
the Jurisprudence OF the country,
AN ABLE JURIsT
1t is not always the most learned law.
yer who is the useful and Efficient Judge.
There are INDIES. the vast amplitude of
whose requirements overlap and encum-
her their powers OF Discrimination, when
the ability 10 discriminate is the meet
generally useful faculty in the judicial
mind. The power to assimIinte knowledge
is as useful to the mind as that 70 assim.
Hate food to tue body. Sidney Smith
said OF his friend, the brilliant Homer,
when he found nm enYirGned by partially
digested volumes, 'HCrner is a sort of
literary tiger surrounded by the remains
he cannot devour.' Tnis is not lnapplIca-
Ole to certain students Oi toe literature
OF jurisprEde ce.
The ability TO comprehend the case in
hand, to see all of Its bearin 5, to see its
justice, to distinguish that case from
oLher decided eases that look like it: to
reach the true and the right conclusion in
the precise contention at bar, and the reso-
luton to enforce ii; these I esteem to ne
the qualities Of the useful Judge. and
these qualities were comp ietely possessed
by inc lat Chief Justice. Nor were they
passive qualities; they were always eX-
erted.
A MORAL MAN.
at ~ true, as said since his death Dy
jude BleGKiey, bis was warm mind, ;
and It's warmth became a radiant and
burning glow 8nen it considered ofsnses
iuyOlvInx moral turpitude, or that large
class OF uiSrnses winch Tend to weaken
The morality OF the people and to debauch
the principles of youth. The gambler,
the keeper OF a gaming or other vicious
establishment, the proprietor Of the
tipnling house open on the sabbath,
the purveyor OF liquors to minors, the re-
taller without license, these Ell ID OBIVe
genus found in Judge jackson a mortal
foe, and the good he accomplished by
sternly setting mis- face against such
crimes is incaicu able, and Will remain to
bless his people long after his haiiOwed
dust has commanded with the ashes Of
mis- historic ancestry in the bosom OF the
State he loved SO well.
"Chlef Justice jackson had the great
ness Of mind 10 be tolerant OF difference
between himself and others on qu"s;ions
OF public pOhty. Conservative. liberal,
sagacous, he was OF truly lnestmable
value TO i1e judicature OF the Fedora and
State courts IN their mutually dependent,
and yet independent, relations. quinn
BactuS di'erSi quinn Dl0re conjUpcH.
BELOVED BY HIS FRIENDS.
"No man was more tenderiy beloved by
his friends, and the affection be awakened
WAS enduring. Many years mad passed
since ne vas judge Of the Superior Courts
and member OF Congress IN the famous
Congressional district where | passed
mach of my b1vnold and my younger
manhood. Bis vocation in life had taken
ann to another part OF the State, and yet
how aagciionately and admiringly have
| heard tue old men mention bis
name in association with his
great friend and relative Howell Cobb,
ADD praise his virtues OF bead and heart.
These will remain an imperishable memo
ry TO those who live after him undimmed
by the 'tiightottime and the rolling series
of years. and his trands may say with the
Latin bard: AZ has reared "A monument
more enduring than brass, and lo!tier than
kiugly SUBMITS OF TIE pyramids"
Look At YOnr fiCeet!